State of emergency, imposed because of severe flooding, lifted in Salem County; FEMA representatives to tour area today

View full sizeStaff photo by Britney LillyaAfter Sunday's deluge in Pittsgrove Township, water remained high around this home and garage still on Monday.

SALEM —
The state of emergency declared after heavy rain caused devastating
flooding this past weekend in Salem County was lifted on Thursday.

The
rain, up to 11 inches, pummeled the area, especially the eastern part
of the county, for hours on Sunday creating flooding many had not
witnessed in decades.

Damage to county and municipal infrastructure — mainly roads and bridges — has been estimated at $5.1 million.

The
countywide state of emergency declared Sunday night, was lifted at 2
p.m. Thursday. Also on Thursday, at 11:04 a.m., Pittsgrove Township
officially lifted the state of emergency it had declared on Sunday.

“While
we are still working to ensure the integrity of our transportation
infrastructure, we believe that we can reasonably and responsibly lift
the State of Emergency in Salem County,” said Freeholder Deputy Director
David Lindenmuth, chair of the county’s Public Safety Committee, on
Thursday.

“The Office of Emergency Management is lifting the
state of emergency, and will continue to work with the state and FEMA to
help Salem County recover from the flooding event.”

“This past
weekend’s storm tested the resources our county and local governments,
but I am proud to say that the men and women who serve at all levels of
public service did and continue to do an exemplary job,” said Freeholder
Bruce Bobbitt, chair of the County Public Works Department.

“We
are at work repairing and rebuilding the areas affected by the storm
and this will continue over the coming weeks and months. It is essential
that we work quickly and effectively to reopen the roadways affected.
Public safety is always our top priority.”

On Wednesday afternoon
the county freeholder board unanimously voted to authorize an emergency
appropriation of $1 million for roadway repairs.

Local officials
are pressing state and federal officials to provide financial aid to
help pay for repairing the damage. They are hoping Gov. Chris Christie
will declare the county a disaster area, a step that would make it
easier to secure funding.

Salem County officials are working
together with those from neighboring Cumberland and Gloucester counties
in the effort to obtain funding.

On Thursday the state announced
that the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, in coordination with
the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the county Office of
Emergency Management will begin joint preliminary damage assessments
(PDA’s) in Salem County.

The joint PDA’s are the next step is
helping determine whether the state can pursue federal disaster recovery
assistance for the storms. Representatives from the New Jersey
Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Department of
Transportation are also expected to be part of the joint PDA teams,
officials said.

“Inspections of the flood-damaged areas earlier
this week indicated the need to fully engage our federal partners in
refining the eligible costs of the event, and looking at options for the
types of assistance that might be available,” said Col. Rick Fuentes,
State Police Superintendent and Director of the New Jersey Office of
Emergency Management in a statement released Thursday.

“We’re
thankful to all the emergency responders, public works personnel,
voluntary agencies and others from the affected areas who have been
working tirelessly since the weekend to help their communities recover
from the rain and flooding.”

The FEMA/state team will tour
counties and municipalities and view the damage first-hand to assess the
scope of damage and estimate repair costs. The state uses the results
of the PDA to determine if the situation is beyond the combined
capabilities of the State and local resources, and to verify the need
for supplemental Federal assistance. The PDA also identifies any unmet
needs that may require immediate attention.

The process will start today and may continue into the weekend.

Meanwhile some county-maintained roadways remain closed.

Among them are:

• Burlington Road from Sand Bridge Road to Eft Road

• Greenville Road from Olivet Road to Griers Lane

• Olivet Road from Dealtown Road to Palatine Road

Bridgeton Road in Upper Pittsgrove Township was reopened on Thursday.

Bobbitt
said the county Thursday entered into a contract with Pierson
Construction to repair Olivet Road at Palatine Lake. The work will begin
next week and should be substantially completed by the end of the week,
officials said. The county will be receiving quotes today to repair
Greenville Road at Bridge No. 1230 with the goal having that road
reopened the following week.

“We are continuing to work with our
legislative representatives in securing disaster relief for Salem
County,” said Bobbitt. “This will not be a quick process, but it is one
that we will relentlessly pursue to work toward rebuilding.”

One bright spot from the flooding incident was that no one in Salem County was reported to have been injured by the storm.

Officials in neighboring Cumberland County are reporting the storm caused $20 million in damage there.